Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-04-29
The Meeting.

At six o'clock yesterday evening, Sir Ed.
ward Thornton and Mr.. Brathwaite, and
their secretary, Mr.. Bouverie, left the Ex-
change ard Ballard House and walked up
10 the Governors Mansion. Upon arriving
there they were ushered into the Gov
ernor's study, and presented their creden-
tails 10 Governor Lee, who introduced each
OF The Englishmen to each committeeman,
and this done he said
Aud now, after these ntroductions l am sure l
repre- ssnt Virginia when in her name | welcome
within her borders The representatives of the
Council Of Foreign Bondhplder5 and say that she
rejoices that subject of such vital interest to her
growth. glory and greatness has been committed
on the one side to committee, the name and fame
OF whose chairman, whether 80 the honored rep
lcscntatve 10 this American republic from his
own great kingdom the successful solution of
nt;icate problems elsewhere has ever commanded
our respect and confidence, and on the other to
Won representative Virginans whose hearts best
so strong for the peace and prosperity OF the Com
monweath.
Speaker Stuart chairman Of the commit
tee) then said:
Gentlemen. As the joint committee of the
General Assembly appointed in pursuance OF the
following resolution
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Delegates
concurring), That Joint committee consisting OF
three members of tho Senate and five ofthe House
be appointed by the presiding officers OF the res
pectivc houses, who shall be charged with the
duty-tirst of meeting with commission from
the Council of Foreign Bondholders and ascertain
ing what amount of the bonds of Virginia is own
ed or controlled by said Council of Foreign Bond
holders second, to demonstrate to said commits
sion the inability Of the people OF the State to
bear greater burden of taxation and also to show
what are the revenues and the necessary expendi.
lures of the government and the available reve-
nues for the payment of interest. and to point out
TO them that which addresses itself to their inter-
est as well as to the interest of the State-and we
bid You welcome to the Commonwealth OF Nir-
ginia,
For the first time in the many years of agita-
ton touching the public debt the holders of Viz
einia securities have sought conference with the
representatives of the people OF the Common
wealth
Our actions, we trust will all tend towards Sc
curing settlement of this distressing and harass
ing question without increasing the pressing bur-
den of taxation and within the boundaries laid
)wn by the resolutions which are the chart for
our guidance.
In the discharge OF your duties we bsg to as
sure you that every facility for inquiry into tho
exact condition of the financial affairs of the
State, past and present, will be afforded you and
nothing left uudone by this committee TO secure
settlement just to the State, just to the creditor,
and that will meet the cordial approval and sup
port of ali our people.
The committee are ready to receive any COM
munication from You or to meet you &C any time
for conference
Sir Edward Thornton gracefully expressed
his thanks for the kind words of welcome
that he bad heard, and said that it gave
him pleasure to meet the Executive of the
State and the gentlemen composing the
committee on the part of the Legislature,
and that be hoped satisfactory result
would be the outcome of the conference;
that so far as be and his associates were
concerned everything would he done to
bring about result so desirable 10 the State
and TO all others concerned.
After this pleasant conversation took
place. and the party was entertained by the
Governor.